It has become somewhat of a tradition for Hacienda Classical to headline the Sounds of the City festival at Castlefield Bowl.
Topping the bill for a record-breaking seventh time, the orchestral clubbing project led by composer Tim Crooks, DJ Graeme Park and the Manchester Camerata is one of the biggest events in the city’s calendar, playing the sounds of the iconic club just a few streets from where it all began.
The Hacienda has always been a mythical beast in my imagination. Born in 1996, I would clearly never get to go (the last dance happened in June 1997) but this has never stopped my obsession with learning about the cultural catalyst.
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Manchester music was the door that opened me to the colourful history of our city and the people that made it, and inevitably, that meant Factory Records and the Hacienda. So I was incredibly excited to get a taste of it via the Hacienda Classical tonight.
The crowds filed in to the open air venue as the infamous Manchester rain fell. Those who were there the first time round brought their grown-up children to the rave, and others like me who are just intrigued by the magic and the music.
Peter Hook, mastermind bassist behind Joy Division and New Order, whose single Blue Monday funded the Hacienda, kicked off proceedings with a blistering DJ set of classics. Further support came from special guest DJs Roger Sanchez and Todd Terry, both US house music pioneers and well respected producers.
Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer Sanchez is the mastermind behind 2001 hit ‘Another Chance’, whilst Todd Terry was integral in shaping New York City’s house music scene in the 1980s. His tracks ‘Something Going On’ and ‘Keep On Jumpin’ both appeared in the top ten of the UK charts.
Flashes of lightning filled the Manchester city skyline as a sea of rain-soaked ravers bopped along to remixes of tunes including ‘Renegade Master’ and, rather fittingly, Terry’s version of ‘Missing’ - which had the crowd singing back the lyrics ‘And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain’.
As the rain got heavier, Hacienda Classical mastermind Tim Crooks led his group of musicians on stage to a rapture of applause from the eager sold-out Castlefield crowd. Legendary DJ Graeme Park takes his place behind his decks on the elevated stage.
Park, the orchestra and live singers launch into a continuous mix of club classics, comprising new and old versions of Hacienda favourites. It’s joyous to see and hear club records transformed into orchestral masterpieces, giving tracks a new life for an audience who were already more than happy with the original.
The night really couldn’t get any more stereotypically Mancunian as ravers danced through the torrential downpours to a soundtrack of tunes like ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life’, ‘Finally’ and A Guy Called Gerald’s ‘Voo Doo Ray’, which saw Bez appear on stage flaunting his signature dance moves. With every new classic came a roar from the crowd, now all completely soaked but seemingly unbothered.
The introduction of Peter Hook back on stage instigated the biggest cheer of the night before a mass sing along of New Order’s ‘Temptation’ followed by ‘Blue Monday’, famously the best-selling 12-inch single of all time.
Park’s wizardry on the decks and the talent of the orchestra is spellbinding, it almost feels like those songs were always meant to be done this way.
‘U Sure Do’ by Strike and Black Box’s ‘Right On Time’ are met with cheers as the rain gives up `and for the first time tonight I can remove my hood.
Graeme Park announces “Manchester, you’re the best” before closing the night with a triumphant encore and confetti filling the air. Tonight’s spectacle proves the spirit of the Hacienda is still well and truly alive.
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